Belief in Rothschild power grew even as the family’s real influence declined.

Evidence

The Rothschild family established banks in Frankfurt, Vienna, Paris, and London. Their prominence as international bankers peaked in the early nineteenth century and waned thereafter as national governments became increasingly adept at raising funds without recourse to private bankers. Nonetheless, the specter of Rothschild power continued to grow even as the family’s real infl uence declined. — Michael Barkun, A Culture of Conspiracy, 287

Categorization

• XREF: Parallels the anti-semitic-image work in The Frankfurt School where Jewish economic roles made them scapegoats regardless of actual power. — connects to: Rothschild conspiracy fears grew as their real banking influence waned; Jews were most reviled when their actual influence was declining
• SEED: Essay angle: the lag between real power and imagined power — when do symbolic reputations detach from measurable influence, and what maintains them?

Broader Connections

• Rothschild conspiracy fears grew as their real banking influence waned #corroborates (0.98)
• Jews were most reviled when their actual influence was declining #corroborates (0.78)